Introduction
This section is primarily concerned with centurial stones and, since it contains recently consolidated stretches of curtain wall, it has produced an unusually large geolocatable number of these.
Inventory
RIB 1497: coh(ortis) VIII / c(enturia) Sabini/ana (‘Eight Cohort, former century of Sabinius’). Centurial stone found 1921 25ft W of Chester fort. Source: RIB I p.480
RIB 1498: coh(ortis) VIIII / c(enturia) Aeli Ael/ianus (‘Eighth cohort, century of Aelius Aelianus (built this)’). Centurial stone found before 1840. Source: RIB I p.481
RIB 1499
RIB 1499: coh(ortis) VI / c(enturia) Lousi / Suavis (‘Sixth Cohort, the century of Lousius Suavis (built this)’). Centurial stone found before 1840. Source: RIB I p.481
RIB 1500: c(o)ho(rtis) X / c(enturia) Matelli / Ursi (‘Tenth Cohort, the century of Matellus Ursus (built this)’). Centurial stone found before 1778. Source: RIB I p.481
RIB 1501: coh(ortis) I c(enturia) Na(s…) / Bassi has(tati) p(osterioris) (‘First Cohort, century of Nas… Bassus, hastatus posterior (built this)’). Centurial stone found 1779 at Heatheridge. Source: RIB I p.481
RIB 1502: c(enturia) p(rimi) p(ili) (‘century of the First Centurion (built this)’). Centurial stone found 1702. Source: RIB I p.481
RIB 1503: c(enturia) p(rimi) p(ili) (‘century of the First Centurion (built this)’). Centurial stone found 1702. Source: RIB I p.481
RIB 1504: [c(o)h]o(rtis) [V]I[II] / c(enturia) C[...] (‘Eighth Cohort, the century of C… (built this)’). Centurial stone found at a turret near Tower Tye (28b?). Now lost. Source: RIB I p.482
RIB 1505: coh(ortis) VI / c(enturia) De[c]i[m]iana(?) (‘Sixth Cohort, the former century of Decimius (built this)’). Centurial stone found 1702 1 furlong W of Tower Tye. Now lost. Source: RIB I p.482
RIB 1506: coh(ortis) VI / [c(enturia)] Lous[i] / Suavis (‘Sixth Cohort, the century of Lousius Suavis (built this)’). Centurial stone found in 1702 at Tower Tye. Now lost. Source: RIB I p.482
RIB 1507: [c(enturia)] Fl(avi) Iuliani (‘The century of Flavius Iulianus (built this)’). Centurial stone found 1702 between Chesters and Carrawburgh. Now lost. Source: RIB I p.482
RIB 1508: coh(ortis) VI / c(enturia) Libe[r]/alis (‘Sixth Cohort, the century of Liberalis (built this)’). Centurial stone found 1702 near Tower Tye. Now lost. Source: RIB I p.483
RIB 1509: coh(ortis) X / [c(enturia)] Iun(i) Ru[fi)] (‘Tenth Cohort, the century of Iunius Rufus (built this)’). Centurial stone found 1702 near Black Carts. Now lost. Source: RIB I p.483
RIB 1510: c(enturia) P[.../ Sere[ni] (‘the century of P[... Serenus (built this)'). Centurial stone found 1732 SW of Tower Tye. Now lost. Source: RIB I p.483
RIB 1511: c(enturia) Cusini O[...] (‘the century of Cusinius O[...] (built this)’). Centurial stone found 1702 W of Chesters. Now lost. Source: RIB I p.483
RIB 1512: c(enturia) Ada[u]c[t(i)] / Pud(entis) (‘century of Adauctius Pudens(built this)’). Centurial stone found in 1873 whilst at Turret 29a. Source: RIB I p.483
RIB 1513
RIB 1513: c(enturia) Antoni Felic[is] (‘century of Antonius Felix (built this)’). Centurial stone found 1873 in rubble outside Turret 29a. Source: RIB I p.483
RIB 1514
RIB 1514: c(o)ho(rtis) X / c(enturia) Iuli Com/midi (‘Tenth Cohort, the century of Iulius Commidus (built this)’). Centurial stone found 1877 at Black Carts Farm. Source: RIB I p.484
RIB 1515
RIB 1515: c(enturia) Helleni (‘century of Hellenius (built this)’). Centurial stone found 1876/7 in rubble near Limestone Corner. Source: RIB I p.484
RIB 1516: c(enturia) Naso(nis) (‘century of Naso (built this)’). Centurial stone found 1873 between Chesters and Carrawburgh. Source: RIB I p.484
RIB 1517: V (’5′). Building stone found 1912 immediately east of Turret 29b. Source: RIB I p.484
RIB 1518: X (’10′). Building stone found 1912 immediately east of Turret 29b. Source: RIB I p.484
RIB 1519: c(enturia) Rom(…) / Pro(…) (‘century of Rom(…) Pro(…) (built this)’). Centurial stone found 1932 at Sharpley Farm. Source: RIB I p.484
RIB 3302: coh(ortis) [...] / c(enturia) Pont[...] (‘[...] Cohort, century of Pont[...] (built this)’). Centurial stone found at Black Carts farm house before 1976. Source: RIB III p.300
RIB 3303: coh(ortis) VI / c(enturia) Gelli Pilippi (‘Sixth Cohort, century of Gellius P(h)illipus (built this)’). Centurial stone found 1972 11m west of Turret 29a. Source: RIB III p.300
RIB 3304: X (’10′). Building stone found 1972 37m west of Turret 29a. Source: RIB III p.301
RIB 3305: X (’10′). Building stone found 1972 56.6m W of Turret 29a on S face. Source: RIB III p.301
RIB 3306
RIB 3306: coh(ortis) I, c(enturia) / Nas(…) Ba(ssi) (‘First Cohort, century of Nas(…) Bassus’). Centurial stone found 1972 65m W of Turret 29a on N face. Source: RIB III p.302
RIB 3307: [c(enturia) Ca]n/tabri (‘the century of Cantaber (built this)’). Centurial stone found 1973 75m W of Turret 29a. Source: RIB III p.302
RIB 3308: coh(ortis) I / c(enturia) Pom(pei) Rufi / prin(cipis) pri/mi (‘First Cohort, century of Pompeius Rufus (built this)’). Centurial stone found 1971 in debris 82m W of Turret 29a. Source: RIB III p.303
RIB 3309: V (’5′). Building stone found 1988 86.6m W of Turret 29a. Source: RIB III p.304
RIB 3310: + (‘+’). Building stone found 1975 226m W of Turret 29a. Source: RIB III p.304
RIB 3311: V (’5′). Building stone found 1975 273m W of Turret 29a on N face. Source: RIB III p.305
RIB 3312: V (’5′). Building stone found 1988 274.5m W of Turret 29a on N face. Source: RIB III p.305
RIB 3313: V (’5′). Building stone found 1988 277m W of Turret 29a on N face. Source: RIB III p.306
RIB 3314: V (’5′). Building stone found 1988 278.5m W of Turret 29a on N face. Source: RIB III p.306
RIB 3315: V (’5′). Building stone found 1988 279m W of Turret 29a on N face. Source: RIB III p.307
Analysis
The centurial stones (1497–1516, 1519, 3302–3, and 3306–8) indicate work by cohorts I, VI, VII, VIII, and IX (written as VIIII). C. E. Stevens’ (1966) analysis of the centurial stones (published before the Black Carts sections of curtain wall – represented by 3303–15 – were consolidated) suggested that these belonged to the Second Legion Augusta, but the discovery of another stone (RIB 3407) of Gellius Philippus in Wall Mile 48 (thought to have been the work of the Twentieth Legion) might indicate otherwise. Stone 3305 recalls the near-identical RIB 1473, which Stevens allots to Wall Mile 28 and also to the Twentieth Legion.
Finally, the numerous V and X marks (1517–18, 3304–5, and 3309–15) are thought to be quarry marks although if they were in universal use there should be more of them (every fifth facing stone, in fact).
Reference
Stevens, C. E. (1966) The Building of Hadrian’s Wall, Kendal
